Industrious

            In the book of I Kings 11 and 12, God is about to split the kingdom of Israel because of Solomon's sin with his foreign wives and their gods.  His son Rehoboam will reap the consequences of his sins as ten tribes of the Kingdom will be given to Jeroboam, the previous ruler over the forced labor of the house of Joseph. This is interesting because it was Rehoboam's treatment of the forced labor that turned the hearts of the people from him.  The text doesn't say this, but it would stand to reason that Jeroboam had treated the forced labor with care and dignity, thus creating a favorable alignment that would soon set the stage for an entire nation to follow him.  The text does say that "The man Jeroboam was very able, and when Solomon saw that the man was industrious he gave him charge over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph."

            You may have heard or read my repeated emphasis on Proverbs 22:29, "Show me a man diligent in his work, and he will stand before kings, not before mean men." Here we have a man who was industrious, and skillful, and fair to his workers, and not only will stand before kings, he would become one.  You just never know how God is going to use you when you cultivate the abilities he has given you to a level of excellence.  The price that needs to be paid to reach this level, will be worth it…but it will cost you.